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Jon Jones and Rashad Evans Continue Feuding in Pre-Fight Media Call

For a few minutes, it appeared as though today’s pre-UFC 145 media call between light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Rashad Evans might be fairly civil, before the ex -teammates eventually engaged in several heated exchanges.

Of course, the two stars will fight next Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia at UFC 145, after quarreling publicly for sometime about their previous relationship as teammates under the Team Jackson-Winkeljohn banner.

The 24 year-old Jones (15-1) is heading into the bout riding a six fight win streak, which includes victories over former champions Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

The former champ Evans (17-1-1) is currently on a four fight win streak, which has seen the 32 year-old score wins over Jackson, Thiago Silva, Tito Ortiz and Phil Davis.

Here were some of the highlights from today’s media call.

Jones said the animosity between him and Evans has not made the pre-fight build up to this fight the most exhausting of his career to date.

Evans acknowledged that he’s tired of talking about the match-up and his relationship with Jones, and that he’s just ready to fight.

Evans admitted that he and Jones used to have a lot of “fun” training together when they were teammates under Greg Jackson.

When asked if he has any regrets in terms of what he’s said about Jones etc leading into this fight, Evans said no, and that he doesn’t feel like he’s ever crossed the line. Jones also added that he has no regrets.

Jones admitted that he would like to be civil with Evans after they fight next weekend, and that he hopes they can be “cool” after the bout.

Evans stated that he doesn’t believe he and Jones will be “best friends” after UFC 145, but that there will be some respect between the two.

Jones said his life “really hasn’t changed at all” since he became champion last year, but added the only difference is that he has “more Twitter followers.”

The champion relayed that he studies footage of his opponent extensively to determine their tendencies, but added that he doesn’t believe his opponents can anticipate what he’ll “throw,” because he “throws a lot of stuff.”

Evans said he didn’t “really pay attention” to what Jones and trainer Greg Jackson discussed when they were teammates.

Jones noted that his goal is “to finish every fight” in 2012, but that he’s preparing to go five rounds next Saturday.

When asked what’s more important, defeating Jones or reclaiming the title, Evans said “it’s a bit of both” and “a toss-up.”

Jones credited Evans for being one of the sport’s best fighters, and added that he hopes Evans “is at his best” when they fight next Saturday.

Evans relayed that he believes Jones “always wanted” to fight him and that he joined Jackson’s to learn how to beat him.

Jones told Evans that “Jackson’s Gym is not a place for the selfish” during a heated exchange between the two regarding their relationship with Greg Jackson.

Evans stated that he believes “everything has its purpose” while discussing the layoff he had from May, 2010, through August, 2011.

Evans said he hasn’t worked much with Greg Jackson or Mike Winkeljohn since his loss to Lyoto Machida, and that having “those guys against me is going to be like whatever”, in terms of whether it will give Jones an advantage.

The former champion said there wasn’t much to a reported altercation that occurred between him and Jones in Las Vegas, and that Jones told him “how great he is.”

According to Jones, Evans credited the champion for his recent performances during the aforementioned meeting, before reportedly adding he was “fighting him now”. Evans proceded to call Jones a liar.

Jones reported that he thinks Alexander Gustafsson is “looking really good” and credited the Swedish fighter for his “hands”.

Evans also complimented Gustafsson, who is fighting Thiago Silva tomorrow in Sweden, and stated that he looks “really rangy” and “good”.

posted by FCF Staff @ 3:15 pm

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